Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently shared his reflections on creativity and the demanding nature of game development, revealing that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in "crunch time."

Kojima's candid X/Twitter posts expressed his fatigue and described the intense pressure of crunch, a period of extended work hours often exceeding typical schedules. While many studios have pledged to avoid crunch following recent controversies, Kojima's public acknowledgment of its impact on his team is noteworthy. He highlighted the multifaceted demands beyond game development, including writing, interviews, and other non-game related tasks, emphasizing the significant physical and mental toll.

Although Kojima didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, it's the most likely project experiencing crunch, given its anticipated 2025 release and the typical timing of this intense development phase. His other projects, OD and Physint, are seemingly in earlier stages of development.

The most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally—commonly known as “crunch time.” On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and… https://t.co/FrXRgaS748

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) January 10, 2025

Kojima's contemplation of his future creative lifespan wasn't solely triggered by the current crunch. Instead, reading a Ridley Scott biography seems to have sparked reflection on his own career longevity. The 61-year-old acknowledged questioning how much longer he can maintain his creative output, expressing a desire to continue but acknowledging the uncertainty of his future years of creative work. He cited Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as inspiration.

Despite these reflections, Kojima's fans can rest assured that retirement isn't imminent. He remains committed to his craft after nearly four decades in the industry.

Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcased in September, maintained the series' characteristically bizarre style, featuring elements like a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller. While a story introduction was released in January, much of the narrative remains shrouded in mystery, though Kojima has confirmed some character absences. The original Death Stranding received a 6/10 rating from IGN, praising its world-building but criticizing its gameplay.